Are You an Introvert? 10 Signs to Look For (& Tips!)

Are you an introvert? Let’s dive into the definition of an introvert and how to leverage your introverted personality.

Check out the video below on how to get started talking with people, or read on below!

What is an Introvert?

An introvert is an individual who primarily draws energy from solitary activities and internal reflection, rather than from social interactions. Introverts tend to prefer quiet environments, deeper one-on-one connections, and have a need for periods of solitude to recharge. If you sometimes get energy from the right people in the right situations…then you might be an ambivert! Read on to find out…

But what does each label mean? Let’s review the difference between an introvert, extrovert and ambivert:

• Introvert: Someone who gets energy from solo time and focuses more on internal feelings rather than on external sources of stimulation.
• Ambivert: Someone who can exhibit qualities of both introversion and extroversion depending on the situation, mood and people they are with.
• Extrovert: Someone who loves being around people, gets energy from socializing and feels confident with new people.

Here are some more tell-tale signs you might be an introvert:

• You find yourself mentally scheduling “recovery days” after social events, even ones you’re genuinely excited about—your energy bank needs a serious refill after extended people time.
• Deep conversations about life’s mysteries with one close friend energize you, while small talk at large gatherings feels like trying to run a marathon in flip-flops.
• Your idea of a perfect Friday night involves celebrating the beautiful sound of absolutely nothing… Just you, your thoughts, and maybe that new book you’ve been eyeing all week.
• During group projects, you’re the one quietly solving complex problems while others are debating where to get lunch.
• Your stealth exit strategy is so smooth, people think you’ve developed teleportation powers.
• That moment of stress when your phone actually rings instead of receiving a text, leading to the eternal internal debate: “Do I really need to answer this, or can I just pretend I’m currently scaling Mount Everest?”

10 Signs You Might Be an Introvert

Let’s skip the obvious “you hate parties” stereotypes. Here are some real signs that you might be introverted:

1. You have the ability to spot the nearest exit, quiet corner, or escape route in any room you enter—not because you’re planning to flee, but because having a backup plan helps you feel more at ease
2. After explaining something to a group, you often think of a better way to say it hours later during your mental replay of the conversation
3. You don’t just prefer texting—you draft messages, edit them, and sometimes decide not to send them at all because the moment has passed in your mind
4. You’ve mastered the art of the “ghost nap”—those moments where you’re physically present in a group but your brain has stepped out for a quick recharge
5. Your ideal hangout involves parallel play—like reading different books in the same room with someone or working on separate projects side by side
6. You carefully arrange social events with enough buffer time between them to decompress
7. Good conversations energize you, but you still need time to recover from them
8. You have specific “thinking spots” in your home where you process the day’s events, often replaying conversations or imagining future scenarios
9. Your idea of a perfect compliment isn’t “you’re so fun” but rather “you made me think about this differently”
10. You notice everything—the slight shift in someone’s tone, the subtle dynamics in a group, the tiny details others miss – but you don’t always share what you observe

Are You Really an Introvert?

If you think you’re an introvert, you really could be an ambivert!

Let’s find out how you rank on the scale. Do you think you might be an ambivert? Or do you know one in your life?

Ok, you did our quiz to find you are definitely an introvert? Great! Read on for tips on how to harness your power:

10 Tips to Make Introversion Your Superpower

Introverts are humble observers 

Studies have found that introverts are more humble than extroverts. Humility is an incredibly important—and hard to learn trait. It makes introverts more perceptive, more open and less bogged down by ego.

Humility is also associated with the desire to be of service to others.

This makes introverts wonderful leaders, managers and friends.

Introverts are also wonderful observers. If you’re introverted, you tend to pick up on social nuances, hidden emotions and team dynamics better than anyone. Don’t take this superpower for granted!

Since you tend to think carefully before speaking and use your words carefully, people take you seriously. Don’t ever feel pressured to engage in inane chit-chat or make throw-away comments to appease others. Speak when you are ready.

Your quiet power is contagious, and here’s proof:

Prepare For Loud, Open Workspaces

Have you noticed that many companies are switching to large open workspaces? This can be very hard for introverts. I interviewed my introverted colleague, Shelly O’Donovan, to get some great tips for introverts:

In a 2015 study by Oseland…

• Researchers found that people who scored highly for introversion and neuroticism were more affected by noise than people who scored low on either variable.
• When all participants were asked specifically how noise affects the ability to work, a significant three-quarters of the respondents reported that they are negatively affected by noise in their workplace.
• Only 10% of participants thought that acoustics in their workplace had a positive effect on their performance.

So what can you do if you are constantly in a loud, open workspace? Harness these tips:

• Build in quiet time for yourself. This could mean spending 2 hours in open space and then hiding away for 10 minutes in a quiet corner of the cafeteria while you recharge your battery. It could mean that you turn off the radio on your drive home and have some quiet car time or sit in your car at lunch for a break. Take care of yourself and give yourself that time to decompress.
• Set aside a few key slots during your day to find a quiet place to work. If you can disappear into a pod for an hour or two you can accomplish amazing amounts of work because you have the peace and quiet to focus on it.
• Could you shift your hours an hour or so in either direction? It may not be possible, although if you can, you may be able to get into the office early and start working before it is full. This will give you that quiet time you need to properly focus.
• You need a break from that open environment and lunch is the perfect time. Lunch with a friend outside the office can help you recharge, or go for a walk or a ride in your car. Just sit in a quiet place and recharge!
• Invest in noise-canceling headphones or earbuds. These can significantly reduce noise and help hone your focus! They also act as a nonverbal accessory that says, “I’m busy.”

Strategize Your Energy

Here’s the deal—most introverts can’t last all day with vibing, Spongebob energy.

So let’s strategize. Instead, pick your “power moments” at social events. Maybe it’s the first 30 minutes when you’re fresh, or that sweet spot after dinner when conversations get real. Show up fully for these high-value exchanges.

Give them your signature introvert superpowers—your deep listening, your thoughtful insights, your ability to make one person feel like they’re the only one in the room.

Then, make purposeful moves to recharge. Take a short walk outside to “get some air.” Find a quiet corner to people-watch while enjoying your drink. Or my favorite—become the designated photographer for a few minutes. You’re still part of the action, but you get to step back and observe, which is where introverts thrive.

Here are a few more ideas you can try:

• Take photos—it’s a natural way to step back while staying part of things
• Move around the venue and switch rooms when you need space
• Pick 2-3 people for real conversations and skip the small talk with everyone
• Introduce friends who’d click—then let them chat while you breathe

Pro Tip: You don’t have to be inauthentic to be liked! In fact, we cover all the tips you need to have genuine, interesting relationships:

The Introvert Energy Map

Think of your social energy like a video game power bar, with different activities drain it at totally different rates. Over time, you’ll learn your personal burn rate for each type of interaction.

Energy Level	Activity Example	Recovery Needed	Pro Tips
High Energy Cost	Large group socializing	2-3 hours	Schedule for weekends, follow with alone time
Medium Energy Cost	Small group dinner	1-2 hours	Limit to 4-6 people, pick quiet venues
Low Energy Cost	One-on-one coffee	30 mins	Morning meetings when fresh
Energy Neutral	Side-by-side activity	None	Reading at a cafe, working together quietly
Energy Gaining	Solo creative time	Gives energy	Schedule before social events

Here’s how:

Track Your Social Spending:

• Keep a quick note after each social event: how drained do you feel (1-10), how long was the event, and what type of socializing was it?
• Notice your peak energy times—maybe you’re surprisingly social at 10 AM coffee meetings but toast by dinner
• Pay attention to your “energy amplifiers,” or certain people, places, or situations that either drain or energize you faster than usual

Then Build Your Strategy:

• Stack your week strategically. Put high-drain events (like team presentations) on different days than evening socials if possible
• Create “energy runways”—before big events, give yourself a buffer of low-drain activities
• Use “social stepping stones”—start with easy interactions early in the day to warm up your social muscles

The Secret Sauce – Recovery Tactics:

• Know your non-negotiables—maybe you need a full quiet evening after any group bigger than 4 people
• Master the mini-recovery—find 5-minute recharge tricks that work for you (a quick walk, putting on headphones between meetings)
• Build in automatic recovery blocks—like scheduling Monday evenings as your guaranteed quiet time after social weekends

Use Your Personal Reset Pod (or car, for short)

Most people battle the start and end of events, but you can flip this. Drive yourself and time your arrival about 30 minutes after start time (if you know you have leeway)—you skip the chaotic hellos. Then plan an exit just before the peak crowd time.

Get there early and take 5 minutes in your car to sit in silence. Put on a song you love. Maybe do some quick breathing. Plus, offering rides home to a couple people gives you an airtight reason to leave when you want.

Pro Tip: Some people don’t like to arrive late as everyone’s already engaged in conversation. In that case, try arriving 30 minutes earlier so you can slowly ramp up your conversations as the group gets bigger.

Find Your Sit and Chill Partner

When you’re at a party or event, look for that one person who seems equally drained by the noise. They’re usually off to the side, watching like you are. Instead of forcing yourself into the loud crowd, join them in “quiet socializing.”

In fact, some of the best connections happen when two people admit they’d rather just sit and chill. Maybe you both people-watch and swap theories about the party dynamics. Or share your go-to escape strategies. And suddenly, you’re both recharging your social batteries while still socializing!

Set Up an Interesting Space

There was this woman at my old client’s office—let’s call her Sarah—who everyone thought was “mysteriously charismatic” despite being deeply introverted. Her secret? She knew how to be alone and own it.

Instead of trying to work the room at office parties or client events, she’d find one spot—usually a quiet corner with a good view—and set up camp there. But here’s the brilliant part: she’d make her spot interesting. Maybe she’d grab some of the best snacks, or position herself near something worth talking about, like the office’s weird art collection or a window with a great city view.

People naturally drifted to her throughout the night. And because she wasn’t exhausted from circulating, she could give each person this amazing quality of attention. She had these genuine, memorable conversations while everyone else was doing the shallow small-talk dance.

The best part? She wasn’t performing or pretending to be extroverted. She was just creating a space where real conversations could happen on her terms. By the end of each event, she’d had meaningful interactions with half the room—but on her terms, at her pace, without draining her battery.

Pro Tip: This works well if you know how to be alone! If you’re the type to feel drained being alone at the party, perhaps skip this one or read on: All Alone? Here Are 10 Tips to Deal With Your Loneliness and …

Use Curiosity as Your Social Fuel

Stop dreading small talk. Instead, walk into every social situation with one interesting question you actually want to know about people. Not “what do you do?” but things like:

• “What’s a personal passion project you’re working on?”
• “What’s a random skill you wish you had?”
• “What would you do with $10 million?”

Pick your question before you go. Make it something you genuinely want to know. When the conversation starts to drain you, pull out your question. You’ll be surprised how quickly boring small talk turns into stories you actually want to hear.

Action step: Write down 3 questions that spark your real curiosity. Test one at your next social event.

The Movie Scene Mindset

Next time you’re at a social event, steal this trick from film directors: imagine you’re watching the scene unfold in a movie. Instead of feeling pressure to be the main character, become the observer who notices all the interesting details—the social dynamics, the small moments, the story arcs playing out.

You know who thrives at parties? The person who notices that two people would hit it off perfectly, or spots when someone needs to be rescued from an awkward conversation, or catches the tiny details others miss. As an introvert, you’re already wired to notice these things. Use it.

Action step: At your next social event, spend the first 10 minutes just watching. Pick up on three interesting details about what’s happening around you. Then use those observations to guide one genuine interaction.

Setup Your Safe Haven

Create one room (or even just a corner) that’s purely analog in your home. No screens, no chargers, no digital anything.

The rules are simple:

• Nothing that plugs in or lights up
• No reminders of tasks or to-dos
• Nothing that beeps, pings, or demands attention
• Only stuff that lets your brain breathe—books, art, plants, window view
• Comfortable seating that isn’t associated with work

Here’s why it works: Digital detox spaces are trendy, but having a permanent analog zone in your home is different. Your brain needs a space where it can fully power down from all the stimuli.

Here are some more ideas for your safe haven:

• One oversized, sink-into-it chair – preferably something that doesn’t remind you of your desk setup or dining room
• A real plant that needs minimal care – maybe a snake plant or ZZ plant (they’re hard to kill and naturally clean the air)
• A stack of physical books or magazines – but only the ones you actually want to read, not “should” read
• A good reading lamp with warm light (nothing that flickers or buzzes)
• Something tactile to fidget with – smooth stones, a wooden puzzle, or those satisfying Japanese joinery blocks
• One soft throw blanket that’s only for this spot – your brain starts associating it with calm
• A view of outside if possible (even a tiny window works!)
• A small side table for tea/water

Frequently Asked Questions About Introverts

Go Forth and Unleash Your Inner Introvert

Being an introvert isn’t just about being quiet or needing alone time – it’s about having a unique set of superpowers that, when properly understood and harnessed, can make you incredibly effective in both your personal and professional life. Your deep thinking, careful observation, and ability to form meaningful connections are strengths, not limitations.

• Introverts recharge through solitude and excel at deep, meaningful connections
• Strategic energy management helps introverts thrive in social situations
• Creating analog spaces and quiet zones boosts introvert mental clarity
• Curiosity and thoughtful questions transform draining small talk into energizing conversations
• Observation skills make introverts natural leaders and problem solvers
• Proper preparation and recovery time amplifies introvert strengths

Ready to take your introvert superpowers to the next level? Check out our guide: Be More Likable Using These 5 Science Backed Strategies